In May 2011, the Getty Conservation Institute organized and sponsored a two-day meeting bringing together ICOMOS ISC20 thematic framework subcommittee members and an international group of invitees who understand and have experience with thematic frameworks for heritage assessment, as well as expertise with a range of twentieth-century heritage types across a wide geographic span.

The meeting goals were to gain consensus between TICCIH, DOCOMOMO, ICOMOS, and the UIA on the framework outline, to identify key historic themes for the twentieth century, to develop an outline for the historic thematic framework that will guide future work.